UN Nuclear Watchdog IAEA Head Yukiya Amano Chief No More

Vienna: UN nuclear watchdog IAEA head Yukiya Amano has died at the age of 72, the organization announced on Monday. Yukiya Amano led the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2009 and was planning to step down in March 2020 because of an unspecified illness. In a statement, the IAEA secretariat expressed its “deepest sadness” at the passing away of the Japanese diplomat. The agency released part of Amano’s letter in which he was quoted as saying that he was “very proud of our achievements and grateful to member states and agency staff”. Amano had overseen a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six major world powers in 2015 that restricted the Islamic republic’s uranium enrichment programme. Amano had taken over from Mohamed ElBaradei a decade ago and his third term was due to run until November 2021. (IANS)

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